INSIDE YOUR HEALTH: MDH Report Shows STD Cases on the Rise

A report by the Minnesota Department of Health looked at data of state STD rates from 2012 to 2013. While the state's overall STD rate is up 10 percent, cases of syphilis were up 64 percent and cases of gonorrhea were up 26 percent.

According to the report, there were 23,133 cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis reported in 2013 compared to 21,465 in 2012 and 19,547 in 2011.

The majority of the cases of chlamydia, which is the most commonly reported STD in the state, occurred in teens and young adults. One-third of the cases of chlamydia occurred in the greater Minnesota area.

Gonorrhea was the second most commonly reported STD in the state with 80 percent of the cases occurring in the Twin Cities area.

"Untreated STDs can have serious health consequences," said Dr. Ed Ehlinger, Minnesota Commissioner of Health. "Testing, diagnosing and treating these diseases in their early stages will prevent long-term health problems and slow their spread. Since most STDs don't show symptoms, it's important for sexually active people to get tested each year or when involved with a new partner."